Quest versus Caravan Tranny Problems

[HeadlessHorseman]

I'm a '96 Dodge Grand Caravan LE (GC) owner and I've had it with Dodge. I've been through three transmissions including the one that came with my GC when I bought it new. Enough is enough. I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it up the tailpipe anymore.

Here's the thing... I'm going to look at Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Kia this time around and I am just wondering if Quests suffer from the same transmission failures that I have had on average every 68,000 miles or 3 years, whichever comes first.

I'm sick and tired of replacing transmissions at $2,600 a pop every three years. Would anyone care to speculate whether or not I might do better with a Nissan? I've seen a few posts here about Quest trannys but not on the same scale I've seen on the Dodge board.

Got an opinion? I'd love to hear what you have to say.

[mwebber78]

If your going to buy a Nissan Quest then pick up an 05', they made some production changes that have improved an otherwise great minivan. There were a few TSB's on 04' Quests for hard shifts and 1-2 problems but they were limited to software problems NOT hardware or physically replacing parts. It was only on a limited few. I have an 04' and I am still happy with it. I have had the engine light on once and thats it. The engine light was fixed by them installing the newest version of the engine management software, took 1/2 hour. As far as the Kia, you have to be kidding me. No power sliding doors, no head/side airbags and the sliders look mini-sized.

[HeadlessHorseman]

Originally Posted by mwebber78

... As far as the Kia, you have to be kidding me. No power sliding doors, no head/side airbags and the sliders look mini-sized.

The only thing I've heard about Kia is they have made major improvements in the "quality of design" area - not sure what this means. If this phrase translates to "reliability" it might be worth a look.

I know two things for sure...

1.) - the more complicated a machine is, the more likely it is that something will break - a universal law of physics, and

2.) - I am tired of spending thousand$ to keep my vehicle on the road.

I wish I were kidding you... but, I am so sick and tired of being jerked around by dealers and paying hundred$ or thousand$ for an endless stream of repairs, I am willing to consider almost anything.

[mwebber78]

Oh I can understand what your saying but you may have taken my Kia comment the wrong way. they HAVE made strides in quality, however the value content of that van is below what you would even get in a Dodge. The sliders really are narrow in opening to allow rear seat access, there is no power sliding features which is really handy and the saftey features aren't there. They still use small brakes, and only front passanger airbags. If I'm going to commit money to a van than it had better have all of the saftey features available for my family. Honda, Toyota and Nissan put standard three rows of airbags, brake distribution +ABS and more for a reason, it saves lives.

[HeadlessHorseman]

Very good points mw... thanks very much for the heads up.